“And now I’d be deciding for Rebecca.”
“Yes.”
—
The next morning, I drove to Columbus and placed the letters on Rebecca’s kitchen table.
“Dad, what is this?”
“Something your mother should’ve told us years ago.”
“Us?”
I drew a breath.
“Rebecca, my first love, Anna, is your biological mother. And I’m your biological father.”
She stared at me.
“What are you talking about?”
“Read the letters.”
By the second letter, her hands were trembling.
“Mom knew?”
“Yes.”
Rebecca wiped her eyes.
“Was she trying to protect me?”
“Maybe at first. But after a while, I think she was protecting herself too.”
“Did she love me?”
“Every single day.”
Rebecca sat quietly for a moment.
“Does Anna know about me?”
“She knows everything.”
“Does she want to meet me?”
“More than anything.”
Rebecca swallowed.
“I want to meet her. Soon.”
“You should.”
She studied my face.
“Are you okay with that?”
